INQ28: Nobody expects the Velsian Inquisition

Hey everyone, time for another update at long last: I realise that, technically speaking, I am still short one final instalment of the 2017 Eternal Hunt Awards, but it’s already late February, and the prospect of still needing to finish that writeup has felt like a millstone around my neck for weeks now, keeping me from actually posting any new content — which is a shame, because the most wonderful thing happened: I actually managed to paint something new! Yay! We’ll be getting to that in a minute… 😉

Anyway, I am still committed to posting something about some landmark releases and about where we go from here, as I do have quite a few thoughts about the state of 40k, the Specialist Games, the Primaris Marines and what have you, but I am putting it off for now, in favour of actually getting something posted. Deal? 😉

So there I was, basking in the usual hobby slump, when several things happened at the same time. One, I purchased Chris Wraight’s “The Carrion Throne – Vaults of Terra” and blazed through it in two days:

If you are into INQ28 (or Inquisitor in general, for that matter), I cannot recommend the book enough: It has shady inquisitorial dealings galore, it features the Legio Custodes (technically a bit of a spoiler, but there’s that very blatant cover artwork, so yeah…) and it’s set on Holy Terra itself — if those three points don’t sell you on the novel, I don’t know what will. Anyway, it’s a great read!

You see, back in 2014, PDH sent me a heavily damaged Adepta Sororitas Seraphim model, missing its head and feet. And after some deliberation, I used the poor dear to create an interrogator for the retinue of one Inquisitor Nabreus Arslan, of the Ordo Hereticus Velsen:

I was – and still am – rather in love with the idea of a hulking monodominant Inquisitor being complemented by a slender, very self-assured female Interrogator like that, and I loved the gunslinger look the model had. So with a replacement head (from the Wood Elves Glade Guard, I believe) and some replacement feet (from the 3rd edition plastic Dark Eldar Kabalite Warriors), this dame was ready to rock — I even had a brilliant plan for her paintjob, based, among other sources, on Victoria Lamb’s seminal Hereticus warband:

models built and painted by Victoria Lamb

models built and painted by Victoria Lamb

But then I never painted her, for some reason. I think I had this very clear idea what I wanted her to look like and was really nervous about messing up the execution. What’s more, it felt like the entire retinue, completely built and assembled at this point, hinged on my success with this particular model. So I set her aside, to pick her up and sigh theatrically every now and then, and that was that.

With the current challenges, howeve, I really felt she was the perfect model to participate in both Alex’ and Azazel’s challenges — time to get her finished at long last! So I took a deep breath and got to work:

I am not going to lie to you, I was completely right to be afraid of this paintjob: The old metal model was full of strange nooks and crannies and had some weird issues, and that softly detailed Wood Elf face almost drove me mad. At the same time, the painting felt more freeform and painterly than I was strictly comfortable with, especially since I went with a somewhat experimental way of painting the armour, using an almost impressionistic approach to create depth.

The contoured armour was really great for that strategy, however. So, in the end, I was really happy with the outcome, as the finished model finally sat on the table before me. Take a look at Interrogator Chastity of the Ordo Hereticus:

The idea here was to go with a very classic Ordo Hereticus approach of red, black and gold: I wanted the model to look slightly sinister, but also regal, with the ostentatiousness of those perfectly assured in their righteousness. At the same time, I also used a scheme that inverted the colour scheme for the Order of Our Martyred Lady, the posterboy…erm “postergirl” Adepta Sororitas colours. I see Chastity as a former Sister of Battle turned Interrogator, and I liked the idea that her look still echoed her former position.

Anyway, I am really happy with finally having tackled this model, and I am also rather pleased with the paintjob! I consider Chastity a fitting contribution for the Fembruary challenge, and I hope you’ll agree with me! 🙂

She still needs a last name, by the way, so feel free to send some suitably grimdark and/or phonetically pleasant suggestions my way!

Just as I had suspected, finally finishing the model had the same effect as freeing up a clogged pipe, so I felt myself immediately drawn to the next model for the retinue. I chose this kitbash of a redemtpionist I created last year:

It’s a fairly straightforward conversion using parts from the Dark Vengeance cultists and some IG flamer arms. The kitbash basically just came together after I had browsed through some old Necromunda illustrations, some cover artwork for the old Redeemer comics in particular. Funnily enough, this guy was built before a re-released Necromunda was even a thing, but now that we have the updated game, he could probably do double-duty in both settings 😉

In any case, though, a redemptionist surely seemed like an appropriate henchman for a traditional fire-and-brimstone Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor.

When painting the model, I wanted to stay within the same colour palette I had used on the Interrogator, albeit with a dustier, grubbier aspect: After all, this guy is a zealot, so I tried to communicate that fact by making him look suitably grimy and disheveled:

Meet Brother Goderich the Pure, of the Church of Redemption:

For the most part, I tried to go with a very classic redemptionist colour scheme. There are some touches I am pretty happy with, though: The hazard-striped eviscerator works as a callback to the classic Necromunda look. The pilot flame was a spontaneous idea that came to me in a moment of inspiration, and it’s a detail that I am now stupidly happy with 🙂 It also has the added benefit of providing a bit of a visual flourish to that rather boring flamer nozzle.

One thing I am really not sure about is whether or not I should add some Imperial/Inquisitorial decals to his shoulder pads (in white): Would that improve the model, or would it detract from it? I would be happy to hear your feedback on that!

So I already have two finished models for the warband — not bad, given the fact that I didn’t really touch this project for a long, long time, right?

Anyway, between these two models, I have basically nailed down the palette I want to use for the warband, so expect the other members to use different combinations and permutations of the recipes I used on Chastity and Goderich.

Speaking of the next models for the warband, what’s in the pipeline?

Dear old Inquisitor Arslan himself also has a bit of a checkered history, as I built him ages ago and then kept coming back to him again and again, making a tweak here, adding a bit there — but, once again, never actually finishing the damn model — there may be a pattern emerging here…

I decided to make one final tweak to the model, giving him a small promethium tank feeding his hand flamer, complete with a hose running from his hip to his fist:

I was actually wondering whether he might look even cooler with Custodian shoulder pads…?! PDH convinced me to just let it rest already and consider the model finished, after half a decade… So yeah, expect to see him with some paint on soon-ish.

Next up on the painting desk is another operative, though: This old Van Saar model I received in a bitz swap a while ago

I’ve always felt that, with his bulky stillsuit and aiming pose, he’d make for a great Inquisitorial operative: Now in another shout out to DexterKong’s and my shared INQ28 setting, the Velsen sector, I wanted him to be a veteran of the Saarthen Draughr, a regiment invented by Dexter. Back when Dexter came up with the Draughr and tried to nail down a look for them, we went back and forth a while about the kind of helmets used by the regiment: Dexter wanted them to be somewhat sinister, but not Traitor Guard-sinister, so we settled on Necron heads as a base, seeing how they had this smooth, prefab look. For his proof-of-concept model for the Draught, Dexter grafted a rebreather onto a Necron head. Anyway, since I wanted my inquisitorial operative to be a veteran of the regiment, I spliced together a similar helmet and added it to the model’s belt:

This is such a minuscule detail, really, and it’s hard to explain why I am feeling so pleased with myself over this idea, but I just like that bit of continuity that hints at a larger background and at the amount of worldbuilding Dexter and I have put into our shared setting.

I have a painting session with my good friend Annie scheduled for tomorrow, and I’ll be bringing the Draughr Veteran along, so he should be the next finished model for Inquisitor Arslan’s retinue — wish me luck 😉

One last thing to nicely round out this post: Because I was still very much in an INQ28 state of mind after all of this, I grabbed some of my (semi-finished) retinues and my deck of Dark Millennium playing cards and had a bit of fun. No new models here, just a fun little diversion:

Inquisitor Antrecht and his retinue:

Inquisitor Gotthardt and his retinue:

Servants of the Emperor:

The Magi of Korhold:

It goes without saying that I would love to hear any feedback you might have! And, as always, thanks for looking and stay tuned for more!

Haha, maybe, given the time, money, bitz and, most importantly, attention span. Why, are you buying? 😉 As you can see, I am having a hard enough time finishing the starring roles, least of all the bit-parts. It sounds like Neil 101 might be your man, though — it sounds like a project like that would be right up his alley.

Dang it, Kraut, now I want to do this again, but I’m already caught up in a dozen Dungeons and Dragons projects! Maybe I’ll have to commission you to make my Inquisitor or something – heaven knows you could do him better justice than I could! haha good job mate

If I had bits (and could ignore the literal army of unpainted Skitarii on my dresser) I so could! As it is, I can’t seem to build a model that works for Inquisitor Mikhailovich to save my life. Maybe some day when I can afford to splurge on a handful of specific pieces…

As for Arsian, yes, I’m happy to nearly see him painted… But then again, if you’d not remembered him, maybe I could have bought him from you! That said, I cannot wait to see the finished product. I think that the shield doesn’t quite work where you have it on his arm, just because of the pose and the preexisting flamer, but I love the bit. I would try either mounting it on his other arm (like a D&D Defender relic sword) or slinging it across his back. That said, he’s your character, so you do what you think fits him best!

Dude, Interrogator Chastity is superb – the more freeform painting style really suits you! The reds are absolutely beautiful mate, and they just suit the mini perfectly – an excellent entry for both challenges!

Amazing work, as always. the red on Interrogator Chastity looks really great as others already said. More in general, I think the Inquisition is one of the things that better define the 40k universe, maybe even more than space marines (they’re more iconic, but lack very often the subtlety and depth of actual human characters) . I’m really looking forward to reading “The carrion throne” too, and I think also John French’s “Resurrection” should be a good read, even though I saw some not really enthusiastic reviews online (but he is one of my favorite authors, so…). I would also recommend, out of INQ discussion, “Primogenitor” starring good old Fabius Bile, definitely worth it.

Thanks, raff! “Carrion Throne” is a perfect look at the Inquisition, if you ask me: It has everything one could want from an Inquisition story, and it also ties into the overall lore into a surprising and satisfying way. Personally, I personally found that reading both the – ancient – Inquisitor novel by Ian Watson and “Master of Mankind” by Aaron Dembski-Bowden really made the conclusion of the novel even better and more rewarding.

As for “Primogenitor”, yeah, that one was great, as was its sequel “Clone Lord”. I can only recommend those as well.

Great, thanks for your answer Kraut! I’m definitely adding Carrion Throne to my “to read” list, together with Ian Watson’s books. Good to know Clonelord lives up to the first book of the series, too. Oh, and that pilot flame is a great touch!

Excellent work on the pair of them here! I share your satisfaction in getting some models finished so long ago done. As for the question on adding some Inquisitorial seals to Goderich, I guess it depends on the primary use of the figure – if it’s to be the Inquisitorial Warband, I say go for it. If it’s equally shared between Necro and Inq28… then maybe not.
Also great to see your amazing showcase of Inq28 models on show here as well. There’s an awful lot of great work on show there!

Cheers, mate! That’s an excellent point about the symbols! I think I’ll leave them off to make the model more versatile — when seen in the context of the entire retinue, Goderich still looks like he belongs even without any =][= symbols.

*ahem* What I meant to say is, loving both the finished models – Chastity is looking very self-confident and intimidating (I’ve always been a little unconvinced by the wood elf heads, but it works perfectly in this case!).
As for Goderich, great use of bits, and again, loving the pilot flame! My gut says that an icon in white on his shoulder would be worth it, just for that little extra tying him in with Chastity.

Inquisitor Arslan is looking great (is that an inverted radar dish as a shoulder pad?), and the Draughar vet looks intriguing – loving the war and glamour shots, too!

Back when I built Chastity, the Wood Elf head was a bit of a stopgap solution, as it was the only suitable female head I had. With the bionic eye added to that strange half-mask, I think it works really well, though, and I am quite happy with the choice in hindsight.

I agree about the icon on Goderich, although Azazel rased an excellent point above about keeping off any symbols so as to be able to use the model in both settings, so I think I’ll keep him that way.

As for Arslan, yes, that is a radar dish alright — an idea stolen from the old Codex Witch Hunters 😉

[…] completion schedule, though. So after the “Neglected Model/Fembruary” challenge finally prompted me to paint a model I had wanted to finish for years at long last, I thought I might just take a peek at the next challenge. And Azazel didn’t […]

[…] to me from the start was that I wanted the entire warband to hinge on Arslan and his interrogator, the Lady Chastity. Now the latter was already finished, and my idea was to simply inverse one key colour for […]